title: A cost-utility analysis of alternative drug regimens for newly diagnosed severe lupus nephritis patients in Thailand.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to assess the value of four drug regimens for newly diagnosed severe LN from a societal perspective.
  
  
  METHODS
  A model-based cost-utility analysis was devised to measure lifetime costs and health outcomes. Current treatment options consisting of different combinations of i.v. CYC, AZA and MMF were compared with a baseline regimen of i.v. CYC in both the induction and maintenance phases. Resource use and costs were derived from medical records reviews and databases. Event rates were elicited from randomized controlled trials. Relative treatment effects were obtained from meta-analyses. Health utilities were obtained from a real cohort of patients to estimate the outcome of quality-adjusted life years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  It was found that a treatment regimen that combined i.v. CYC in the induction phase with AZA in the maintenance phase was cost saving compared with the baseline regimen. Treatment with i.v. CYC in the induction phase and MMF in the maintenance phase and treatment with MMF in the induction phase and a reduced dose of the same in the maintenance phase turned out to be a negatively dominated regimen.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the Thai context, the combination of i.v. CYC for the induction phase followed by AZA for the maintenance phase should be considered as the first-line therapy for newly diagnosed severe LN, as it seems to be the most cost-saving regimen.
authors.affiliation: Health Intervention and Technology Assessment Program (HITAP), 6th floor, 6th building, Department of Health, Ministry of Public Health, Tiwanon Road, Muang, Nonthaburi, 11000 Thailand. adun.m@hitap.net.
authors.forename: Adun
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mohara
authors.forename: Román
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pérez Velasco
authors.forename: Naiyana
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Praditsitthikorn
authors.forename: Yingyos
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Avihingsanon
authors.forename: Yot
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Teerawattananon
mesh_terms: D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis / Q000379:methods; D016527:Drug Costs; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008181:Lupus Nephritis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics; D008297:Male; D018803:Models, Economic; D019057:Quality-Adjusted Life Years; D012074:Remission Induction; D013785:Thailand; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents
keywords: Thailand; azathioprine; costs and cost analysis; cyclophosphamide; decision support techniques; economic models; health care rationing; immunosuppressive agents; lupus nephritis; mycophenolic acid